W.29 mystery part

[NGBZ]

Anyone have any idea what this is?

https://i.imgur.com/I0mdom5.jpeghttps://imgur.com/a/wYWyQsK

[John McKenzie]

All I get is "Content not viewable .".... !

[buck toenges]

It's a sea plane correct? if so it has to be either a snorkle or periscope.

[Bert Angles]

Anyone have any idea what this is?

https://i.imgur.com/I0mdom5.jpeg (https://imgur.com/a/wYWyQsK)

It looks exactly like a a big blue box with " content not viewable in your region " written on it.

[John McKenzie]

NGBZ ,

Having now identified the photo that you are looking at , I will now offer for you the following for your consideration ..... :-

Regarding previous answers elsewhere , .... this is not likely a motor breather , for a number of practical reasons and specifically ,.... there are adequate breather vents on the lower crankcase .

The thought might arise that an "additional" header-service petrol tank may have been fitted , involving "some kind of unknown type fuel gauge" ,...however space requirements (see below) would additionally preclude this .

Ref a Temperature gauge ,...I know of no gauge that resembles this in any way , and it would not require such a massive (sic) mounting .

Also , considering that ,.. below the cockpit combing there is only a short distance & very limited space , between the rear of the instruments - board & MG belt assemblies boxes etc .

----------------------------------------------------------

Not my own sphere of interest ,...but ,....FWIW ,.......

Obtaining "up to date", Weather & Forecast was great important to the Imperial Navy , ... especially consideration of the ever present threat of the British RN .... it is quite possible that the job fell to aircraft .

In my opinion , This object is possibly some kind of Early version of "Barigo type" ,....Barograph , "weather station ", containing Stacked ( side viewable ) , :- Barometer , Thermometer & Hygrometer ,all within what looks like possibly a Brass gauze cylindrical case ....mounted on a sturdy base .

Details of early , German WWI weather stations Instrumentation are not readily recorded , ..perhaps something experimental , as a small development by Siemens u Halske or ??? ...( Barigo history dates only from 1926 ) .
So ,... as regard to the exact details of such a possible instrument , one would have to have a specialist knowledge with time & interest to find out more .

JM
.

[Volker_Nemsch]

.
... would make some sense, since this compay built barographs in a realtively uncommon shape (a cylinder, standing on its end, including the technical parts, covered by an also cylindrical case).

https://www.ebay.de/itm/227009153150?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=707-53477-19255-0&campid=5339002231&toolid=20006&customid=b4ffe85b256f17012c9781410d8193be&loc_physical_ms=129555&loc_interest_ms=&msclkid=b4ffe85b256f17012c9781410d8193be

The usual barographs surely used the same technology, but the stuff was housed in a simple, robust glass case, as we remember them today (or comparable to the one below).

https://charlesmiller.blob.core.windows.net/stock/14961-0-medium.jpg?v=63800410915580

I admit, this is just a guess, based on John's idea...
:wacko:
.

[John McKenzie]

Look up " Barigo Barograph "... some good examples of the 3 parts stacked one on top of the others ,..in glass case ,...more of a display piece .
Unfortunately I cannot get photo to upload .

WWI version of this should look similar but more robust for military use .

JM

Added ...... :-

I just sent it to a friend & hopefully he can post it here soon .
Missing in this photo , but normally these ( just post WWI ) instruments are enclosed in a Glass Display Dome .
Pure conjecture ,....but for a moving Military aircraft application , I would think it would be essential to be protected from the buffeting of airstream , but still be within and in contact with the local air ....The protective Gauze screen should fulfil this function , and at the rear part would likely be fitted with a cellon viewing panel , toward the direction of the pilot .

If you look closely at the WWI photo , it is possible that there is some writing visible through the ? brass screen ? surrounding the front side ,...
also notice the small daylight slit ? .

Perhaps the results are recorded on paper in addition to being radioed back to base or a ship or U boat .

.

[Volker_Nemsch]

.
"Unfortunately I cannot get photo to upload."

I decided to offer links instead.

When opened, there are no limits in connection with the size of the document and it saves Scott a lot of space here in THE AERODROME FORUM.

Just an idea (again)...
:addup:
.

[Kerbalnout]

Here's the photo John is referring to on post #7

Kind Regards,
Ethan

[Beto]

I've been puzzled about this part for a few days and the barograph theory seems the most plausible. At first sight I thought about the self destruction devices based on standard stick grenades, but that's not a logical place to put a grenade.

[NGBZ]

Thank you John. While it is not 100% conclusive, it is certainly the most logical (and sensible) answer I've seen to date.
Another potentially intesting point about this...... I've only been able to find 3 period photographs of aircraft fitted with this device. They are marine numbers 2512, 2530 and 2532. In isolation, that doesn't really mean anything, but they are actually all from the same production batch ordered on 13th April 1918. Could it potentially mean this device was only fitted to aircraft from this batch?